MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
In this day and age, where so many people are gloomy and pessimistic, it is refreshing to be surrounded by believers who radiate a ‘living hope.’ This is not only wholesome and substantial, but something we need to immerse ourselves in! When we breathe in His goodness it is like the beautiful scent of an exquisite perfume. This is how Scripture describes it: “In a turbulent world where people are either dying or being rescued, we are the sweet smell of the Anointed to God our Father. “ (2Cor 2:15)
I love to hear when God intervenes and restores broken lives among those who dared to trust in Him against all odds. We must never forget to celebrate the story, but more importantly, be the story. There is a difference between a participator and a spectator. A participator is resolute but the latter grieves over missed opportunities and the consequences of all that could have been. One of the most poignant examples in Jewish history was the following event that took place just prior to the Spanish Inquisition, one of the darkest times in Jewish history. It is a story I have shared before but bears repeating.
In the year 1490, there was a big gathering of the congregations of all the Jewish community in Spain, near Barcelona. This Jewish community flourished in positions in government, and prospered to the point where they were talking to each other, asking, ‘What can we do to make our identity as Jews stronger? One of them suggested, ‘You know how rich we have become! Let’s send a message to Istanbul that we want to buy the land of Israel back from the Turks. We will pay whatever price they want. We’ll return to the Holy Land and rebuild the temple!’
There was complete unity and great excitement at this suggestion so they appointed three representatives from the community to go from Spain to Istanbul to negotiate terms with the Pasha in Turkey and return. Travel in those days was long and arduous and they set aside twelve months for this venture.
In the meantime, they decided they would open new yeshivas for Kohanim (Priests) to learn Kedoshim (holiness) for Levi’im (Levis) to study music, and their joy was unbounded! They decided they would meet the following year on Rosh Chodesh Elul in the year 1491.
The year passed quickly and they all assembled again to receive feedback from the emissaries. ‘We got a great price! We are buying the Holy Land!’ Everyone was ecstatic until suddenly one in their midst stood up and said, ‘Who gave us the right to buy the Holy Land? The Lord drove us out from the Holy Land, so we don’t have the right to go back unless we have a sign from heaven!’
The people immediately responded with indignation. ‘Are you crazy? Do you need a bigger sign? We have the money! The Pasha wants to sell it to us, and we want to go!’ However, a wedge had been driven and the poison had found an entrance. There were already two parties, one said, ‘White,’ and one said, ‘No! That’s red!’
They decided to wait another year, until Rosh Chodesh Elul, 1492, and everybody knows that on Tisha b’Av that year they were driven out of Spain. Do you know what the problem is? When the right moment arrives, Don’t wait, don’t wait . . .
Raphael ben Levi
